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A review by felixsanchez
Blood Wedding and Yerma by Federico García Lorca
5.0
A brilliant introduction to Spanish Literature - a severely underrated and undertalked-about genre. The unfortunate event of western (and by western, I mean American and British) control of the English-speaking world has caused such plays largely to be confined to scholastic canon, but this should not be the case.
Lorca's abilities were so great, the shame of his death is an understatement. Rereading these plays only enhances the writing and their symbolic meaning, articulating further why his writing was so precisely apt for the time, and so beautifully encapsulating. There is endless symbolic meaning, endless layers of socio-political commentary.
His utilisation of archetypes and stereotypes is not at all, as it were, stereotypical; they're perfect for their roles and wholly distinguishing the issues in society then, and now. The overall meanings obvious but also nuanced, necessary and beautifully presented.
There are endless symbols and beautiful metaphorical additions that are perfect fodder for thought and discussion. Lorca's grip on language and his ability to evoke stunningly accurate but whimsical pictures is astonishing (this is, of course, taking into account the 1/3 of Spanish I could translate, and the English translation I read). It reminds me of an article I read about him, where his cousin reported him teaching her how to boil an egg, 'to wait until the water starts laughing'. This is a perfectly encapsulating snippet of Lorca's linguistic brilliance.
His poetry is beautiful as well. It has that magical realism and whimsy that seems a theme throughout his work, and is nonetheless such a joy to have in the world.
A beautiful author and person gone far too soon, which reminds us of the pertinence in fighting the good fight against the ill-fortuned.
Lorca's abilities were so great, the shame of his death is an understatement. Rereading these plays only enhances the writing and their symbolic meaning, articulating further why his writing was so precisely apt for the time, and so beautifully encapsulating. There is endless symbolic meaning, endless layers of socio-political commentary.
His utilisation of archetypes and stereotypes is not at all, as it were, stereotypical; they're perfect for their roles and wholly distinguishing the issues in society then, and now. The overall meanings obvious but also nuanced, necessary and beautifully presented.
There are endless symbols and beautiful metaphorical additions that are perfect fodder for thought and discussion. Lorca's grip on language and his ability to evoke stunningly accurate but whimsical pictures is astonishing (this is, of course, taking into account the 1/3 of Spanish I could translate, and the English translation I read). It reminds me of an article I read about him, where his cousin reported him teaching her how to boil an egg, 'to wait until the water starts laughing'. This is a perfectly encapsulating snippet of Lorca's linguistic brilliance.
His poetry is beautiful as well. It has that magical realism and whimsy that seems a theme throughout his work, and is nonetheless such a joy to have in the world.
A beautiful author and person gone far too soon, which reminds us of the pertinence in fighting the good fight against the ill-fortuned.